Wiltshire Police and Psychologist Partner to Prevent Knife Crime

Wiltshire Police has launched a year-long partnership with psychologist Dr. Brooke Hamblin to help prevent young people from becoming involved in knife crime. The collaboration, a first for England and Wales, will train officers to better understand vulnerable children and provide specialist support to those at risk of offending.

The Home Office-funded pilot comes as knife crime in Wiltshire rose by 6% in the year to May 2026, despite a national trend of falling offences. Jo Davis, whose family friend Owen Dunn was stabbed to death in 2022, said she believes the program could have saved Owen's life.

Supt. Mike Vass, Wiltshire Police's knife crime lead, said the force wants to take a more preventative approach. Dr. Hamblin will train frontline officers about how trauma, disabilities and additional needs can affect a young person's behavior and increase their vulnerability to becoming involved in crime. She will also carry out individual case work with six young people from the county identified as being at risk of offending.

According to the Ministry of Justice and Youth Justice Board, children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) are over-represented in the youth justice system. Dr. Stevie-Jade Hardy, assistant director of policing and criminal justice at the Youth Endowment Fund, said police officers will often encounter these children at times when they need understanding and support.

Supt. Vass acknowledged that police officers do not always manage relationships with young people well enough. The aim of the project is not to excuse offending, but to understand the causes behind it and prevent future offences. Jo Davis, founder of knife crime charity Owen's World, said the program could make a lasting difference and that understanding vulnerable young people is crucial to preventing knife crime.